Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

A Lillian West Bride for an Ultra-Personal Jewish Wedding Full of DIY Touches at Parklands Quendon Hall, Essex, UK

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If you could use an extra infusion of Jewish joy right now, look no further – we promise you the Jewish wedding of Judith, a senior manager at an IT consultancy, and Josh, a teacher at a secondary school, will put a BIG smile on your face.

We’re in love with all of the personal DIY touches the couple incorporated into their big day to make it 100%, totally them. We can’t get enough of the fun DIY activity sessions Judith and Josh set up for their guests, featuring everything from a giant Guess Who game with members of the wedding party as all the faces to an art station where guests could decorate mini canvases! Don’t miss them in the wonderful photos by Natalie and Max.

Another thing we love is that when it came to music, the duo opted to invite friends to do guest DJ sets all through the wedding with the theme of “music through the ages” – how fun is that?!

This was a wedding with lots of moving parts to be organized, and Judith and Josh wisely opted to work with Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Events by Natasha as their on-the-day coordinator to make sure everything ran smoothly. In Judith’s words, “Natasha and her team were absolutely fantastic on the day – they prepared everything so beautifully, and were really instrumental in making things run smoothly and to time. It really allowed us to just “press play” on the day and see all the hard work being put into motion, without us having to worry about anything.”

Read on for more fabulous details in the bride’s own words!

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How We Met

Judith, the bride: We met as many modern couples do, using the help of the handy dating app Hinge! Josh was drawn in by the colourful rainbow makeup and unitard displayed on Judith’s profile (evidence of one of the many themed zoom hang-outs Judith had with her dance troupe over lockdown), and Judith was impressed by video footage of Josh scaling the boulder at Mabley Green, showing his climbing prowess and shared interest in bouldering.

We met for dinner and a drink at a local Japanese bar, and enjoyed each others’ company over some tasty sushi. The conversation flowed, and the smiles and laughs kept coming. It was Chanukah, and towards the end of the date, Josh asked whether Judith had been lighting candles to celebrate. Much to her surprise, he reached into his bag and produced a full Chanukiah, set of candles, and a lighter. Together, in the middle of the bar, we smiled across at one another in the candlelight. Judith thought it was a great story to take back to her family… little did she know that this would be the person she would want to smile and light candles with for the rest of her life!Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Jewish Self-Care: How to Deal with the Stress of Jew Hate

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Photo by Claudine Hartzel

How are you doing? If the answer is “not so great,” you’re not alone. The past three weeks have seen some of the darkest days the Jewish community has experienced in most of our lifetimes, and it can feel like there’s no end in sight. 

Between grieving the incomprehensible brutality and loss of life on October 7, the overwhelming silence from friends and the world at large in the days following, and now, blatant Jew hate beyond what many of us thought was possible in the 21st century, we’ve all been through a lot. 

I know it’s easy to minimize what those of us outside of Israel, who don’t have friends or family who’ve been killed or taken hostage, are experiencing, but the reality is that this conflict is taking its toll on all of us. 

And it’s essential to make sure we’re doing what it takes to sustain our strength so we have the energy to keep supporting our loved ones, speaking out for Jews and Israel, and bringing much-needed Jewish joy into the world. 

If you’re struggling, I’m sharing some Jewish self-care tips that I hope will help you take back control and give you the support you need to stay empowered and avoid burning out during this undeniably tough time. 

Limit your news intake

This is one of the hardest but most important tips. I know the urge to keep doomscrolling is so strong right now, but past a certain point the urge to be constantly up-to-date can do more harm than good. 

Consuming the steady drip of bad news – not to mention the excess of screen time that comes with it – isn’t good for our mental health, and while keeping on top of minute-by-minute updates might help us feel more in control, that’s just an illusion. 

So when you’re starting to feel overwhelmed, switch off your phone for half an hour (or whatever period of time makes sense for you). 

Keep your social media safe

I’m giving social media its own category because, sadly, the apps we used to turn to for relaxation and distraction have all too often been overtaken by Jew hate and misinformation. Now more than ever, it’s so important to curate your feed. 

Unfollow accounts that are making you feel unsafe – and if you can’t handle your feeds being flooded with content about the war, consider muting accounts who are posting a lot about it for now, even if you support their work and messaging.

If you’re posting about Israel and Jew hate on your own accounts right now, consider turning comments off your posts – or, if you leave them open, just don’t read them. There are so many comment trolls spewing antisemitism on Jewish and pro-Israel accounts.

Get outside

While you’re on that news break, try to get outside for some fresh air. A (screen-free!) walk around your neighborhood can do wonders for your state of well-being – and if you’re able to really get out and spend some time in nature, even better. 

Give back 

At a time when many of us are feeling so powerless, focusing on ways we can make a difference is so important. One way to do that is by giving to others, either by giving tzedakah or volunteering your time. 

There are plenty of Israel-related causes to donate to – and depending on where you are, there may be local opportunities to help send supplies to Israel or to fundraise. And if there are rallies in support of Israel where you live, attending one in person is also a great thing to do. 

That said, other causes unrelated to Israel still need support right now, so if there’s something you can do to make a difference in your local community – whether it’s helping out at a food pantry, visiting isolated seniors, or whatever else is a good fit – don’t feel like these activities are any less important right now!

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A Same-Sex Wedding Featuring Pastel Suits, Gluten-Free Eats, and Unforgettable Vows at Temple Israel, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA

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In this dark time we’re living through, we could all use an extra infusion of Jewish joy. And there’s something about Jewish weddings – the unbridled love and emotion, the continuity and hope for the Jewish future – that comes through better than just about anything else we can think of. 

That’s certainly true of the beautiful, heartfelt Jewish wedding of New Hampshire couple Robbie and Jeff. The two grooms centered their big day around their own unique love story, and starting with their choice of venue, Temple Israel in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where Robbie completed his conversion to Judaism, everything about their wedding was ultra-personal. This came through most clearly of all when it came to the duo’s vows, which told their story in an ultra-moving way.

Naturally, the couple wanted to make sure their ketubah was something special, and they found just the thing in their hand-painted tree of life ketubah by the wonderful Nava Shoham from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor 1800ketubah.com. Don’t miss it in the wonderful images from Jeffrey Rivkin Photography!

There’s lots more to say about this joyful Jewish wedding, but we’ll let the grooms take it from here…

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How We Met

Robbie and Jeff, the grooms: We met in late 2017 through a mutual friend at a Halloween party were we live in Dover, New Hampshire. Jeff was in a relationship at the time, and initially we were just acquaintances at social gatherings, and became gym buddies. When Jeff became single a few months later, Robbie quickly jumped at the opportunity to get closer with the buff new guy with beautiful blue eyes, and the ability to carry an intelligent conversation.

“Jeff was fairly new to the area and didn’t know many people, so Robbie would invite him over to his place after the gym and cook him up some chicken, steak and veggies on the grill while we’d drink wine and get to know each other.”

Being that we were both in our 30s, we both approached the relationship with vulnerability and honesty. Neither of us was wasting any time. We shared our trials and tribulations over those initial dinners, and that’s when we really started connecting. Robbie has a thing for guys who have faced adversity and overcome it, so he was attracted to Jeff from the moment they started getting to know each other.

At around the three week point in our relationship, Robbie blurted out “I love you” after a few glasses of wine and a deep conversation. Jeff played his cards a little closer to his chest, and replied “thank you,” but the reality was that he was instantly drawn to Robbie’s boyish smile, his overflowing empathy, and effortless swagger.

The plot twist to the whole story was that Robbie had just been laid off from his job and was about to move away, eventually planning to land on the West Coast. On a romantic walk along the Marginal Way in Ogunquit Beach, Maine, Jeff tried to end things on a high note, not wanting to get more attached knowing Robbie was leaving. Robbie wasn’t so willing to let go. “I felt crushed as soon as the words came out of Jeff’s mouth. I knew I was going to be living in New England for at least another year before leaving to the West Coast, so I pleaded with Jeff to keeping seeing me and let things play out on their own.”

Thankfully, Jeff agreed, and we ended up maintaining a long distance relationship for about 13 months, roughly 145 miles or 2.5 hours apart. During that time, Robbie found a new job that allowed him to work remotely, and in August of 2019, he moved back to Dover, New Hampshire to live with Jeff full-time.

In January of 2021, we were out walking our cavapoo, Coal, and laughing hysterically as we watched him gliding on the ice on our long driveway. Then, Jeff told Robbie to look up at the stars. Jeff always “stops to smell the roses,” so Robbie looked up too, only to see a completely overcast sky. Confused, he looked back down and saw Jeff getting down on one knee, with a huge smile on his face, and an open ring box. He asked Robbie to marry him, and Robbie asked, “are you being serious?” Jeff replied, “I’m on my knees in the snow with a ring in my hand. Does this look like a joke?” Then Robbie said, “Yes. Yes. Oh, my God, of course.”

Having already been planning to propose to Jeff himself, Robbie went ahead and did a second proposal to Jeff that July at the top of their favorite mountain, Mt. Chocorua, in New Hampshire’s White Mountain region. He got down on one knee near the edge of the mountain at the top while Jeff was looking around, and said, “what do you think about the view over here?” Jeff turned around and Robbie popped the questions. Of course it was already a done deal at that point. Jeff said yes, too!

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Join Us For a Jewish Community Get-Together This Sunday October 29

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Photo credit: Israel and You 

By popular demand, I’m running another FREE one-hour community Zoom get-together for everyone who could use some support and connection right now.

I heard from so many of you that the session I led two weeks ago left you feeling inspired and empowered, and this time we’ll delve a little deeper into topics like speaking out effectively against Jew hate and misinformation about Israel – all while coming together with hundreds of other Jews who get what you’re going through right now.

The event will take place this Sunday October 29, at 8:30 PM UK / 4:30 PM NYC / 1:30 PM LA, and you’ll find:

  • Support for navigating the silence (and worse) so many of us are experiencing from friends, activists, and influencers
  • Step-by-step guidance on effectively combatting Jew hate and misinformation about Israel, online and off
  • Connection, community, and comradery with fellow Jews who understand what you’re going through right now – including breakout sessions to say whatever you are feeling.

This event is free and open to the community, so please do register now  – and share with anyone you think could benefit.
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A Berta Bride for an Enchanted Garden Jewish Wedding at the Fairmont Windsor Park, UK

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It’s been a long couple of weeks for the Jewish people. In light of Hamas’s horrific acts of terrorism, we’ve taken a few weeks off from our usual wedding content to focus on supporting Israel and each other. While we sadly can’t say things have gotten to a better place, we are feeling more than ever that we need all the Jewish joy we can get – and that includes weddings.

Hence our decision to resume publishing the joyous, life-affirming celebrations of love that are the core of what we do here at Smashing The Glass. And we’re back today with something really special: Bianca and Jordan’s beautiful Jewish wedding at The Fairmont Hotel in Windsor, just outside London – made possibly by a fabulous team of #STGvendors.

 Bianca and Jordan turned to Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Michelle Jacobs of Elegante by Michelle J to make their enchanted garden dreams a reality. Michelle planned Bianca’s sister’s wedding a few years back, so the couple knew from the beginning they were working with the best of the best. In Bianca’s words, “She was amazing and really helped guide us through the process and really understood our vision and what was important to us… Any concerns we had Michelle would deal with it for us and we knew we were in the best hands.” You can see for yourself how exquisitely it all came together in the wonderful photos by Paul Santos and the moving trailer by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Denee Motion.

Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Big Day Designs crafted Bianca and Jordan’s invitations, featuring rose gold foiling and wax seals, as well as their wedding day stationery, and Bianca found her stunner of a gown at Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Wedding Club in Knightsbridge. She chose a strapless corset A-line dress by the Israeli designer Berta – which is all the more meaningful in light of the current situation.

Do read on for more Jewish joy, in Bianca’s own words…


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How We Met

Bianca, the bride: We knew of each other as we are both from Essex but we matched on J Swipe; after a few weeks of talking we finally met up and went on a date!Continue ReadingContinue Reading